Adios, Papa Grande: Jose Valverde out for now as Tigers closer

Oct. 14, 2012
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Jose Valverde heads to the Detroit dugout after blowing a four-run lead in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the ALCS. He will not be the Tigers' closer for the time being. / Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports

by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK â?? Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland and his coaching staff spent a groggy Sunday morning trying to figure out what to do with embattled closer Jose Valverde.

After blowing a four-run lead in the bottom of the ninth in the American League Championship Series opener against the New York Yankees, Valverde will not be on the mound for the Tigers if a save situation arises in Game 2 today.

"I've had a conversation with him today," Leyland said before Game 2. "I still consider him a closer but he will not close the game today."

Leyland said the coaching staff looked at video into the wee hours this morning trying to find a flaw in Valverde's mechanics. "His delivery is way too slow," Leyland admitted and said the coaches will attempt to work with Valverde to get him straightened out.

"I understand the magnitude of it in the postseason," Leyland said. "However, don't forget those last three outs are very tough to get and it takes a special cat in a lot of cases to do that."

As for who will close today, Leyland said the Tigers will go to a closer committee.

"I can't give you one name," he said, although Octavio Dotel, Al Alburquerque and Joaquin Benoit figure to be among the relievers who would be under consideration.

"I'm ready for anything," Dotel said after Game 1. "I'm ready for my team. We have great guys in our bullpen, it doesn't have to be me. Anyone can do the job. All we need to do is get ready for the next game and win game by game."

That Dotel -- or anyone but Valverde -- did not close Game 1 opened Leyland up to scrutiny since Valverde also blew Game 4 of the Division Series against the Oakland Athletics. Leyland acknowledged his mistake.

"In my heart of hearts, I believed last night was a good time to get him back out there, with a four-run lead," Leyland said. "Obviously, it didn't work. I was wrong."

The Tigers made it clear that even though he's struggling, Valverde is still a valued member of the team.

Valverde led the Tigers with 35 saves during the 2012 regular season â?? and was a perfect 49-for-49 in converting save chances last year. But in his last two postseason appearances, he has allowed a total of seven hits and seven earned runs â?? while recording just four outs.

"You can't pitch with 10 pitchers in the postseason," Leyland said. "So Jose Valverde will be a very important part of this postseason. If he's not, it's going to be tougher for us obviously."